Apparatus for removing matter from the bottom of waterways



Feb. 6, 1962 D. R. TALBOTT ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATTER FROM THE BOTTOM OF WATERWAYS Filed July 25, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 1 DAV/0 R. TALBOT'T W11. 1. //IM M. DflRDl/V BY mmzw 9 ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 D. R. TALBOTT ETAL 3,019,535

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATTER FROM THE BOTTOM OF WATERWAYS Filed July 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR DAV/D R. 7211.507?- WILL/AM M. DARDEN ATTORNEYS I atent Ofiice 3,619,535 Patented Feb, 6, 1962 3,019,535 APPARATUS FGR REMQVENG MA'ETER FRQM THE BQTTQM @F WATERWAYS David R. Talbott, 224 W. Wood Road, and Wiiiiam M. Darden, 8 Thompson St, both of Annapolis, Md. Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. dSfl ZIt l3 Ciaims. (til. 37-78) This invention relates to apparatus for removing aquatic growth or other matter from the bottom of waterways and more particularly to apparatus which removes bottom matter by the use of hydro jets.

The broad object of the invention is to provide means for increasing the efliciency and utility of apparatus of the general type shown in the patent to Talbott and Darden, No. 2,352,868, issued September 23, 1958. I have discovered from prolonged use of the apparatus of the patent, that under certain conditions of weed growth and/or bottom conditions that it is desirable to position the exits of the jets of the patent in very close proximity to the bottom being treated and under certain circum stances it is even desirable to have the downwardly sloping parts of the pipes in actual contact with the bottom so as to control the speed of advance of the barge commensurate with the thickness of the growth or the density of the bottom. In practice, the foregoing has proved satisfactory in every way except that when the jets are in close proximity to a bottom which is uneven, one Or more jets occasionally engage a raised part of the bottom and either cause the barge to be stopped or to be pivoted about the engaged jet pipes, if these are to one side of the barge center line. This dimculty is readily overcome provided an operator is in constant attendance upon the jet elevating gear though this prevents the operator from performing other duties and is otherwise a loss of efiiciency.

A specific object therefore of the present invention is to substantially overcome the foregoing difiiculties when the barge is traversing an uneven bottom.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing by so constructing and arranging the jet pipes that they produce a sheet-like, substantially vertical stream against the bottom simultaneously with but ahead of the jet stream issuing from the normal exit so as to wash away uneven bottom parts before the downwardly sloping parts of the jets can engage the same and thereby be hung up.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a jet pipe which not only accomplishes the results set forth in the foregoing paragraph, but wherein the substantially vertical, sheet-like stream also affords an initial dislodging force for aquatic plants, with the stream issuing from the normal jet exit afiording a foilow-up action so that the combined action of the two streams complement each other to insure more nearly complete weed removal than can be accomplished by a single jet stream operating alone.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in combination with jet pipes capable of producing simultaneous, substantially vertical and rearward jet streams as set forth in the foregoing paragraphs, means for adjustably controlling the size or capacity of the vertical stream.

It has been discovered that not only do the improved jets of the present invention accomplish all of the foregoing but they also have proved to be efiective means for depositing and spreading weed-killing chemicals on certain types of aquatic growths and it is accordingly an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for the dissemination of chemicals or the like into a body of water.

Other objects of the invention and their attendant advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic vertical side elevation of apparatus incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical rear elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, broken vertical cross sectional view of a jet pipe constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the structure illustrated in HG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially on the line 5-,5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, broken side elevation of a jet pipe constructed in accordance with the invention and showing means for adjustably controlling the size or capacity of the vertical jet stream;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of an embodiment of a capacity adjusting member employed in the arrangement of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8. v

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a shallow draft barge of conventional construction and carried on the barge is a centrifugal pump 12 supplied with water from a trailing intake line 14. The pump 12 delivers water at substantially high pressure rearwardly through a line 16 to an athwartship manifold 18 having connected thereto at spaced intervals a plurality of flexible conduits 2% which are connected to pivotal couplings 22 to respective vertically arranged pipes 24 which are slidably and rotatably supported in bearings 26 fixed in any convenient manner to a relatively stationary frame member 28 which in turn may be con: nected to the rear of the barge by means hereinafter described.

' The upper ends of the jet pipes are desirably all con,- nected together by means of an athwartship frame member 34 having overhanging ends engaged by hydraulic actuators 32 which are connected to frame 28 for raising and lowering the member Sii and the jet pipes 24 attached thereto. The jet pipes may, if desired, be arranged in separate elevatable banks and may be individually rotated by means of handles 34 or they may be simultaneously rotated in any convenient manner, for example, as shown in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,852,868.

The lower ends of the pipes 24 terminate in downwardly and outwardly sloping jets 36 one of which is more particularly shown in FIG. 3. Each jet has an exit orifice 38 which directs a stream of water downwardly and rearwardly of the jet pipe to wash away mud or sand from the bottom to release the roots or anchoring tendrils of weeds, or, if the apparatus is being used primarily as a dredge, to jet into suspension accumulated silt. In addition, the jet also exerts a component of thrust which is parallel to the surface of the water to cause the barge to advance.

As so far described, th apparatus is substantially similar to the apparatus shown and described in Patent No. 2,852,868. As previously mentioned, however, it is sometimes desirable to position the jet exits 33 in very close proximity to the bot-tom and in some instances it is desirable to have the lower rear edges 40 of the jets actually engage the bottom so as to control the speed of advance of the barge while at the same time insuring that the bottom material is jetted into suspension to a sufiicient depth to positively release weed roots imbedded therein.

In all the figures of the drawings, the jets are shown in bottom-engaging positions and when the jets are in this position, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, any uneven parts of the bottom, such as the hummock shown at 42 in FIG. 3 which may rise to an elevated height, indicated by the broken line 44, above the general level of the bottom indicated by the broken line 46 would normally engage the forward edge of the downwardly sloping jet part 36 of the jet pipe at the point 48. Because the exit 38 of the jet is rearwardly of the point 48 it will be apparent that the stream exiting from the jets cannot Wash the hummock away to free the jet unless the latter is raised or rotated through 180.

In accordance with the present invention, the necessity for either raising or rotating the jet pipes to avoid normal uneven parts of the bottom is substantially eliminated by the provision through the lower ends of the jet pipes of substantially vertical, unitary, U-shaped slots 0 which are desirably adjacent the forward vertical edge 52 of each pipe. As clearly indicated in FIG. 5, each slot 50 extends through the lower side of the jet part 36 and through the lower part of the pipe 24 with the slot lying substantially in a vertical plane through the entire forward part of each pipe, which pane is transverse or normal to a vertical plane through the axis of the jet stream issuing through the exit 38 of each jet. The slot is desirably disposed forwardly of the longitudinal axis of the pipe 24 so that a major part of the lower surface of the jet part 36 rearwardly of the slot will receive the benefit of the vertical stream issuing through the slot and be protected against the possibility of engaging normal elevated parts of the bottom. By disposing the slots forwardly of the vertical axis of the pipe 24, there is also provided on the lower inner surface of the jet part 36, a indicated by the bracket 56, sufilcient surface behind the slot to insure a smooth deflection toward the jet exit of a major part of the stream flowing down the vertical part of the pipe.

The U-shaped slots 50 cause a part of the liquid stream in the pipes 24 to issue through the slot in a sheet-like, more or less parabolic stream as indicated by the lines 53 in FIG. 2. The pipes 24 are spaced apart a distance which enables the streams 58 to overlap each other thereby generally levelling the bottom surface over which the barge is propelled so that during subsequent passes of the barge, if these appear required, there will be substantially no weed infested part of the area which has not received at least a partial jet treatment from either the vertical sheet-like jets or from the rearwardly directed jets.

As intended to be illustrated in FIG. 3, not only do the sheet-like jets 58 issuing from the slots 50 wash away or level normally elevated points of the bottom, but the jets 58 also effect complete or partial freeing of the anchoring tendrils of aquatic plants. The numeral 60 indicates a typical plant having roots 62 which are imbedded in the bottom. A plant 64 to the right thereof has received jet action by a vertical jet and it will be observed that a substantial amount of the bottom material has been jetted away from the roots 66 of the plant 64 and only the outer extremities of the root are still retained in the bottom. As the exit 38 of the jet pipe is moved over the plant all remaining bottom material is jetted away from the root and the plant proceeds to float to the surface as indicated at 68.

Under certain conditions, the bottom of a waterway may be unusually uneven with some parts thereof being elevated to a height above the lower forward edge of the jet pipe where it slopes rearwardly to form the jet part 36. Such a condition is intended to be illustrated in FIG.

4 where a hump 7i? is shown rising above the lower edge 72 of the jet pipe. Under these circumstances, the hump can engage the forward part of the jet pipe above the point 72 and obstruct the forward progress of the equipment, with the vertical jet stream 58 being unable to wash away the elevated part 70 because the washing effect of the vertical jet is exerted rearwardly of the part of the jet pipe engaging the elevated pump. We have discovered that this difiiculty can be overcome by arranging the slot so that it lies in a plane which slopes slightly downwardly and forwardly with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the rear of the barge. Such a sloping slot is indicated at 74 in FIG. 4 where it will be observed that the stream issuing from the slot undercuts the obstruction 70 slightly ahead of the jet pipe so that as the barge advances the obstruction is continuously eaten away and is substantially levelled exactly as has been previously explained in connection with the arrangement of FIG. 3.

in the case of a sloping slot, it will be apparent that the capacity of the slot and the angle of slope should be selected so that a rearwardly acting component of thrust exerted by the stream issuing from the slot is not greater than the forwardly acting thrust exerted by the stream issuing from the exit 33. it will be apparent that the slot 74 can be angularly cut with respect to the longitudinal axis of a vertical jet pipe or the slot may be cut parallel to the axis of the pipe and the entire pipe can be sloped or tilted in any convenient manner, as for example, by mounting the bracket 2% pivotally at 75 to the side of the barge as indicated in FIG. 1, with means such as the arcuate slot and butterfly nut 76 being provided for releasably locking the pipes in their selected position,

It should be understood that in the use of a jet pipe employing a U-shaped slot, the angularity between the jet and vertical parts of the pipe may vary over a considerable range depending upon bottom or Weed conditions. For example, where the bottom material is relatively loose, the weeds are initially more nearly completely freed by the vertical stream and can be quite readily washed completely free by a more horizontal jet issuing from the jet exit. Where the bottom is more dense or clay-like, it is desirable to have the jet parts arranged with substantial angularity with respect to the vertical part of the pipe.

The arrangement of the jet pipe illustrated in FIGS.

6 through 9 difiers from the pipes described above in that means are provided for adjustably controlling the size or capacity of the vertical slot. Such control is desirable where the apparatus is used on a body of water having widely disparate bottom and/or Weed conditions within the operating range of a single barge. Such widely varying conditions, for example, are to be found in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The jet pipe shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is essentially identical to the pipes described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 and like parts of the pipes shown in all of the drawings receive the same reference numerals.

The means for controlling the size or capacity of the vertical stream may comprise any of a variety of valve-like devices capable of relative movement with respect to a pipe and its slot so that the latter may be closed or open to the desired degree. The control means illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9 comprises a shoe-like member 78, preferably of stamped sheet material, having a vertical part 79 which is arcuate in cross section with an internal radius of curvature substantially equal to or slightly larger than the external radius of the pipe 24. The part 79 has a pair of vertical side edges 80, 81 and a U-shaped downwardly sloping bottom part 82 whose forward edge 83 is preferably co-planar with the side edges 80, 81, the entire assembly being adapted to be moved over the sides and bottom of the slot 84 so as to close off the latter to the desired degree.

In order to releasably lock or clamp the member 78 in its selected position, the upper end of the part 79 of the member 78 is partially slit on both sides as indicated at 86 and 88 in FIGS. 7 and 9 to form a connecting or locking part 90 whose side edges 92, 94 are beveled and bent inwardly in facing relationship so as to be springable away from each other to engage opposed grooves in a pair of series of grooves 96, 98 milled into the side wall of the jet pipe over the upper end of the vertical slot 84 through the lower end of the jet pipe 24. Desirably the lower end of each of the respective grooves lies in a line parallel to the bottom edge of the jet pipe part 36 to afford a properly positioned stop means for preventing the member 78 from being forced downwardly away from or olf of the jet pipe 24 by the force of the stream in the pipe acting through the slot 84 onto the bottom part 82 of the member 78.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that the member 78 can be releasably locked in place to close off a selected portion of the U-shaped slot by engagement of the inturned edges 92, 94 of the connecting portion 98 with corresponding grooves in the respective series of grooves 96. 98. If it is desired to operate the apparatus with no vertical stream at all, the member 78 would be positioned to entirely close off the slot 84 by engagement of the edges 92, 94 in vertical grooves to the right of the slot 84 in FIG. 6. For operating the apparatus at full capacity of the slot 84, the member 78 would be removed entirely.

It will be understood that the means described for adjustably locking the member 78 in a selected position is exemplary only and any of a variety of means other than that described can be employed. For example, it is within the purview of the invention to support the member 78 pivotally at its upper end to the pipe 24 with a series of radial grooves extending outwardly from the pivot point to be engaged by a springable part of the member 78 for releasably locking the latter in its selected position.

An additional feature of the present invention res des in the ability of the slotted jets to effectively deposit chemical weed killing substances in waterways, which may be required in certain localities to rid an area permanently of particular types of aquatic growth, particularly those propagated by spores. When used as a chemical depositor, the barge 10 may be provided with a fluid reservoir 78 which may be supported on suitable brackets 80 above the conduit 16 to which the reservoir may be connected for gravity feed by way of a conduit 82 containing a throttle valve 84 which may be opened a predetermined amount to feed into the conduit 16 fluid from the tank at a desired rate. Those skilled in the art will recognize that it may be desirable to include either in the conduit 16 or in a suitable by-pass conduit (not shown) a venturi orifice to insure that water delivered by the pump 12 does not flow into the reservoir.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention should be apparent from the foregoing description. It will be understood that the pipes 24 may be elevated or r0- tated depending upon conditions and reference is made to the prior patent of Talbott and Darden, No. 2,852,868, for a more complete description of the various uses and modes of operation of the apparatus in effecting weed clearing or dredging operations. In accordance with the invention, the provision of the U-shaped slots of the present invention to the patented apparatus has increased the efiiciency and versatility of the apparatus over any other apparatus known or now in use for similar purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus of the invention is susceptible of a variety of changes and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a shallow draft barge, a plurality of substantially vertical, laterally spaced pipes extending downwardly from one end of said barge, a downwardly and outwardly sloping jet part including a jet exit connected to the lower end of each of said pipes, and a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part.

2. In combination with a substantially vertical pipe, a downwardly and outwardly sloping jet part connected to the lower end of said pipe, and a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the plane of 82115181012 slopes forwardly from its upper towards its lower en 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the plane of said slot is disposed on the side of the longitudinal axis of the pipe opposite the side on which said jet part is disposed.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jet part slopes downwardly and rearwardly with respect to said barge and wherein said slot is disposed on the forward side of the longitudinal axis of said pipe.

6. In combination, a shallow draft barge, a plurality of substantially vertical, laterally spaced pipes extending downwardly from one end of said barge, pump means carried by said barge and having a fluid connection with said pipe for delivering fluid under pressure simultaneously to all of said pipes, a downwardly and rearwardly sloping jet part including a jet exit connected to the lower end of each of said pipes, and a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part.

7. The combination of claim 6 including an auxiliary fluid reservoir carried on said barge and means for selectively connecting said reservoir with the outlet of said pump for delivering fluid from said reservoir to said jet pipes.

8. The combination of claim 6, including power means for raising and lowering said pipes and means for rotating said pipes about their longitudinal axes.

9. The combination of claim 6 including means for tilting said pipes to a selected position with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the rear of said barge and means for releasably locking said pipes in the selected position.

10. In combination, a shallow draft barge, a plurality of substantially vertical, laterally spaced pipes extending downwardly from one end of said barge, a jet part including a jet exit connected to the lower end of each of said pipes in angular relationship therewith, and a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part.

11. In combination with a substantially vertical pipe, a jet part connected to the lower end of said pipe in angular relationship therewith, and a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part.

12. In combination, a shallow draft barge, a plurality of substantially vertical, laterally spaced pipes extending downwardly from one end of said barge, a jet part including a jet exit connected to the lower end of each of said pipes in angular relationship therewith, a unitary U-shaped slot through the lower side of said jet part and extending upwardly through the lower part of said pipe, said slot lying in a plane normal to a vertical plane through the axis of said jet part, and means for varying the size of said U-shaped slot comprising a member having interconnected bottom and side parts corresponding substantially in size and shape to said U-shaped slot, and means for selectively and releasably locking said member to said References Cited in the file of this patent member to said pipe over said slot in any one of a plu- UNITED STATES PATENTS rallty of positions so as to ad ust the size or capacity of said Slot 95,213 Elliott Sept. 28, 1869 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said last 5 23521868 Talbott et a1 "s 1958 named member is of a unitary shoe-like construction having an upper part arcuate in cross section and whose in- FOREiGN PATENTS ternal radius of curvature substantially corresponds to the 13,591 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1890 external radius of said pipe and a substantially U-shaped 0,40 Great i n D C- 1897 bottom wall integral with said side wall and correspond- 10 573,212 Germany Mar. 30, 1933 ing in shape to the lower side of the jet part of said pipe. 673,627 Great Britain June 11, 1952 

